New Delhi: Former Australian Open bowler Matthew Hayden has expressed surprise at Rohit Sharma’s bold decision to bowl first on the first day of the Gabba Test as the surface was suitable for batting.
The Indian captain’s unexpected move caught many off guard, but Hayden said the pitch conditions in Brisbane were friendly for batsmen and expected him to fall out of form in the first few days. He said it could cause trouble.
“I was really surprised that Rohit actually won the toss and decided to bowl because I felt like he was overprepared. I thought it was because of the weather. Almost 12 inches in the last two weeks. It rained. So we had this rainy pattern and it stayed that way for a little over a month,” Hayden told Star Sports.
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India’s bowlers struggled to trouble Australia’s batsmen in their limited minutes, but Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney looked comfortable and Australia ended the rain-hit day with just 13.2 overs. Finished with 28/0.
For this reason, Hayden believes it would have been wiser to choose to bat first. He also pointed out the groundsman’s perspective, pointing out that the pitch was prepared early due to the rain, which may have affected the behavior of the pitch.
“So the groundsmen would have thought they had to get ready early. So I thought, in the first two days, the batting conditions were going to be as good as we were going to see. It was a breakup. “And I think it will turn around,” he added.
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Hayden believes that over the next few days, the cracks in the gabba will widen, making the spinner even more effective. He observed that the pitch was initially dull but likely became harder over time. He also said the weather conditions were unique to Queensland, adding further intrigue to the game.
“And we have seen great performances by spinners from all over the world at this venue. And even if the weather is good, it could still be a crack in the wicket for the reasons I mentioned earlier. Well, I have a few days off It actually rained for a month. The wicket was pretty loose in the early stages, but assuming the typical Queensland weather continues, it’s going to be a little firmer some days. , the next day will be even more perfect,” he added.
